Multiprocessor system for developing control strategies of car engines

A tightly connected multimicroprocessor computer system is described. Typical overhead due to common access on shared resources is minimized in two ways:giving to any module private work, spaces, and using a completely hardware arbiter logic. System hardware architecture and multiprocessing software structure has been designed by M. Coppo (I.S.I . - Torino University) and A. Giordana (I.F.S. - Torino Polytechnic). A large number of I/O lines is obtained by using programmable peripherals, which give easy interface reconfigurability. It is then shown how this structure could reach the goal of developing engine control strategies. Complex interface with actuators and sensors is managed by an interrupt driven software, which takes advantage of the parallel structure to enable synchronization with engine timing. Hardware modularity and distribution of computing load allow a high degree of run time interaction between user and control system. System compactness is such that the same controller can be used along the different steps of experimentation as required.